Madhya Pradesh: Rs 25,000 crore approved for Simhastha Kumbh 2028 as 40 crore devotees set to visit Ujjain
Bhopal/Ujjain, Jun 19 With more than 40 crore devotees anticipated to visit Ujjain during the Simhastha Mahaparv-2028, the Madhya Pradesh government is gearing up on a war footing to ensure world-class arrangements.
Development works worth more than Rs 25,000 crore are progressing across multiple districts as part of Simhastha preparations.
Key infrastructure projects include the Rs 919 crore Kanh Closed Duct Diversion to prevent polluted water from entering the river, new and upgraded ghats at a cost of Rs 120 crore to facilitate holy dips for more than four crore devotees in a 24-hour period, and a 29-km project worth Rs 778 crore.
Union Minister for Power, Urban Development and Housing Manohar Lal, during a high-level review meeting held at the Collector's office in Ujjain, directed officials to complete all tasks related to sanitation, drinking water, food, security, transport, and health services on priority basis.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who attended the meeting, affirmed that no effort would be spared to make Simhastha-2028 a historic and unforgettable event, a press note issued here on Friday said.
"Clean water will be provided to devotees for the holy dip," he emphasised.
The Chief Minister highlighted ongoing initiatives, including the Kanh Closed Duct Diversion Project and the Silarkhedi-Sevarkhedi Project to ensure purity of the Shipra River.
To boost connectivity, several major road projects are underway, including the Ujjain-Indore six-lane highway (Rs 1,692 crore), the Indore-Ujjain greenfield four-lane corridor (Rs 2,935 crore), Ujjain-Jaora four-lane (Rs 5,017 crore), and others.
Additionally, 22 new bridges, five railway over-bridges, and 17 river bridges are being constructed.
A massive parking infrastructure spanning over 3,000 hectares across 30 sectors is also planned, with facilities extending to neighbouring districts, the press note said.
Under the Ujjain City Water Augmentation Scheme, a 200 MLD water treatment plant, more than 700 km of pipeline network, 17 new overhead tanks, and nearly 49,000 new drinking water connections are being developed at a cost of Rs 1,133 crore.
During the review of the Swachh Bharat Mission, Union Minister Manohar Lal stressed effective solid and liquid waste management, wastewater recycling, and improved monitoring.
He called for stronger public awareness campaigns across the state's 16 Smart Cities and directed prompt payment of government dues under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme.
This coordinated push reflects the state's commitment to delivering a grand and seamless spiritual experience while accelerating overall urban and regional development.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Impressive planning, but I hope they also focus on crowd management and safety. 40 crore people in one place is unprecedented! Also, the environmental impact of 3,000 hectares of parking - hope they plant trees to compensate. Faith is important, but so is our planet. 🌍
As someone from Ujjain, I'm cautiously optimistic. The six-lane highway to Indore is long overdue - current road is a nightmare. But Rs 5,017 crore for Ujjain-Jaora four-lane? That seems excessive. Need transparency in these tenders. Still, if executed well, this will transform our city for decades.
Fascinating to see India's commitment to preserving such ancient traditions with modern infrastructure. The 200 MLD water plant and 49,000 new connections will benefit locals long after the festival ends. Smart cities integration is also a good touch. Hope the sanitation plan works - 40 crore people generate a lot of waste! 💧
Amazing! But I've seen Simhastha before - the rush at ghats is unreal. They say 4 crore people can bathe in 24 hours? Hope they have proper safety barriers and life guards. Also, public awareness campaigns for waste management are crucial. We need to keep Shipra clean, not just during Kumbh but always. ✨
Rs 25,000 crore is a lot of money. I hope this doesn't mean cuts in education or health budgets elsewhere. Yes, Kumbh is our cultural heritage,
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